When a group of reporters approached Ian Kennedy after last night's 2-1 victory over the Brewers, a few of his teammates, sitting nearby, lit up in mock protest.

"Why are you talking to him? He only pitched half the game," someone joked.

It was true. Kennedy's six innings of one-run ball were impressive, but equally so was what followed: six shutout innings for the top bullpen in baseball.

Through their first 66 innings of relief, the Padres are leading the majors with a bullpen ERA of 1.74. Central in the movement has been 27-year-old right-hander Nick Vincent, the Ramona native who improbably has become an excellent major leaguer.

When Vincent gave up a single Tuesday, his streak of 20 batters retired in a row came to an end. The last Padres reliever to retire 20 consecutive batters was ... also Vincent (from Sept. 11 to Sept. 26).

Through 10 innings this season, Vincent has allowed one run on four hits. He has recorded 12 strikeouts.

Over 82 2/3 career innings, he has a 1.85 ERA and 89 strikeouts. His cutter, though not Mariano's, has developed into one of the most effective in the game, and his four-seam fastball can also be a plus pitch. Tuesday, in the seventh inning, he worked around the aforementioned single. He did it by striking out the side. The punchout pitches: cutter, fastball, cutter.